Proliferation

Within the past decade of website design and website development, there has been a lot that has been accomplished — and there have been things that we have been able to learn, both good and bad from both the successes of the good websites and the failures of the forgettable ones. Here are just a few things to take away in case you are hoping to up your website design game and create a website that is both attractive and efficient.

Believe in Yourself and Your Website

The first thing you can do to help yourself on your path to great website design is to believe in yourself and the content that you create. Being good at something like designing a website is very similar to being good at anything else. It takes a lot of practice and determination, but on top of that, you have to have a confidence and belief in yourself that you are great and that you can do great things if you simply put your mind to it. By simply having confidence in yourself, you give yourself the room to try new things and know that it is ok to fail, because those failures are going to lead you to your biggest successes.

The Four-Second Rule

The four-second rule is based off of the idea that you and anyone that visits your site should be able to take one look at your site and be able to decipher what it is about and what it is for in about 4 seconds or less. If your users cannot do this, then your website is too complicated and in need of some simplification.

Keep Constant Contrast

The definition of contrast in website design is the difference in visual properties that make an object distinguishable from other objects in the background. As this relates to your website, you simply need to make sure that the most important parts of your website are distinguished from the rest of it. By doing this, you also make your website much easier to navigate.

Navigation Is Key

The final tip is to make sure that the visitors to your website do not get lost in trying to navigate to different pages around your site. Just because you designed it and can figure it out, obviously does not mean that everyone can. The best thing that you can do is have other people such as friends or other website design professionals come and test your website and give you feedback on where you can improve the most and what aspects you succeed at.

Are you more likely to blow your entire paycheck at the local art supply store than the Apple Store? Do you carry a sketchbook in your back pocket or purse next to your keys and wallet? Do you cringe at terrible design concepts while walking through a local business subdivision? If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then there’s a highly likely chance that you have the DNA of a web designer. Here are a few key indicators that your life calling is to create innovative website design.

1. You Judge People, Places and Things by Font Choice

You walk into a new restaurant, and as you’re waiting for a table, you decide to use the facilities. Plastered on the door of the restroom is a sign that reads “Please Ask for Key” — in Comic Sans. As soon as your eyes land on this repulsive font choice, you know that you can’t trust the quality of the restaurant. You grab your significant other and book it out of there faster than you can say Times New Roman.

2. You’re More Swayed by a Product’s Packaging Than the Actual Product

We all might be a little guilty of purchasing a product based solely on its superior packaging — especially if that product is from Glossier, Everlane or Birchbox. The non-designer brain has no problem choosing the product with (shudder) ugly packaging; however, the brain of someone destined for the field of website design is repulsed by the mere thought of bringing something so homely into her home.

3. You’d Never Dream of Throwing Away Magazines

Your magazine library is almost as extensive as your collection of books — and you wouldn’t dream of ever tossing one of your most beloved magazines. Is it the layout? The font choices? The general inspiration that they provide? It might be a combination of all three. Whatever the case, if you’ve got a hefty collection of magazines, it’s pretty safe to say that you’re destined to work in the field of website design — after you’re done pouring over the latest issue of Interview, naturally.

After sending out countless applications for website design jobs, the company of your dreams has asked you to come in for an interview. Allow yourself a brief moment of panic, and then relax. If you keep these basic principles in mind, you will be well on your way to nailing your website design interviews in Utah and beyond.

Prep Your Portfolio and Resume

Make sure your online portfolio is updated and on point. If you don’t have an online portfolio, make one. Right now. Remember that a portfolio doesn’t have to have a large amount of content. Aim for quality over quantity.

Also take time to update your resume and tailor it to the position you are interviewing for. You might emphasize different aspects of your experience depending on if you are applying for a job in Utah or one in the Big Apple. Bring several hard copies of your resume with you to your interview.

Research the Company

Surf the company’s website and familiarize yourself with their culture, style and clients. Look at work they have produced in the past. Be prepared to answer questions about the company and to ask questions about it as well.

Be on Time and Dress Appropriately

Arriving on time shows you are responsible and dependable. Even if the company has a casual environment, dress your best. Putting forth effort in your appearance shows you really care about this interview and are taking it seriously.

During the Interview

Manners matter regardless of if you are from Utah or the Windy City. During the interview, be polite and engaged. Let your personality shine through, and show you are passionate about website design. Be aware of your body language. Look your interviewer in the eye, and sit up straight. Don’t feel weird about promoting yourself. This is your chance to show why you are the best person for the job. Feel free to ask questions.

Send a Thank You Note

After the interview is over, hop on your computer and shoot off a quick thank you email. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you, express your continued interest in the position and say you are looking forward to hearing from them soon.

Some coders and designers might have little interest in learning a new discipline outside of the one on which they currently focus. Why should someone well trained in Adobe Illustrator worry about HTML and why would the champion of HTML worry about vector drawings in Illustrator? While it’s certainly true that coders and designers can work in tandem for things like software and Web development projects (and plenty of coders are designers and vice versa), it’s best if coders understand something about design and designers know something about code.

Why Coders Need Design Fundamentals

In plenty of situations, coders simply put together the code that brings a designer’s vision to life. Coders don’t always have the eye for design or maybe don’t feel comfortable making creative decisions. In order to break free from that mindset, it’s useful for coders to learn the fundamentals of design so that when they’re in a situation to make a creative decision, they can offer meaningful suggestions. When discussing design with those trained to design full time, a coder who understands the vernacular of design can have more productive conversations with designers, which can ultimately result in a better work product. An excellent resource for anyone interested in the fundamentals is “The Non Designer’s Design Guide” by Robin Williams.

Why Designers Need Coding Fundamentals

On the flip side of this, designers who understand coding and Web development fundamentals can have better dialogue with the code makers who bring their visions to life. Additionally, having a fuller understanding of what’s possible from a code writing perspective can widen a designer’s creative pallet. Only by understanding possibilities can a designer really reach their maximum creative potential. Graphic designers ready to step into the world of code and Web development can look to Kahn Academy’s online treasure-trove of resources to learn just about any type of code their heart desires.